Post by WVUfanPHILLY on Aug 13, 2007 11:16:06 GMT -5
By Mickey Furfari
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN — Who’s going to back up consensus All-America tailback Steve Slaton for West Virginia University’s football team this year?
“It’s a pretty wide-open field,” coach Rich Rodriguez declared Thursday evening at his daily briefing for the media. He said it’s really hard to evaluate after just one day in full pads.
Junior Ed Collington and redshirt freshman Eddie Davis got their first tastes of collegiate competition in limited action last season. But they’re being challenged in preseason practice by a pair of highly regarded freshmen, Noel Devine and Jock Sanders.
Both are quick learners and hard workers.
Rodriguez declined to predict when one of those four might emerge and claim the No. 2 spot at tailback. He suspects it could be kind of a day-to-day situation.
“It could happen by Sept. 1,” he ventured. “It could happen in October. It could happen in November.”
All of the running backs, including Slaton and veteran fullback Owen Schmitt, also have to learn the slot positions and possibly be involved in the passing game.
Rodriguez has been particularly pleased with how quickly the freshmen have progressed. Devine, who’s 5-8 and 170 pounds, set school and Lee County (Fla.) career records at North Fort Myers High with 6,842 yards and 92 touchdowns.
Sanders, 5-8 and 185, starred as a runner/receiver at St. Petersburg (Fla.) Catholic High. He rushed for 1,600 yards and 19 TDs as a junior and 1,200 yards and 24 scores as a senior.
Rodriguez also has been “very impressed” with Brandon Hogan, a 6-0, 175-pound athlete from Osbourn High in Manassas, Va. Playing multiple positions, he passed and led his team to a 14-0 record and the state championship.
He passed for 2,539 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,735 yards and 26 scores as a senior. He also returned a punt for a TD.
“I believe Hogan can play a couple of positions already,” the coach said.
He’s also pleased with the progress of junior Selvish Capers, a 6-6, 285-pound offensive lineman.
“He may be in the mix at tackle,” Rodriguez said.
Another rookie, Will Johnson, is expected to compete for playing time at wide receiver. He’s a 6-2 and 200 athlete from Dayton, Ohio.
“I don’t think he will be redshirted,” Rodriguez said.
The Mountaineers practiced twice on Thursday for the first time. They donned shorts for a 75-minute afternoon session. Then they worked out at night after a heavy rain storm in early evening.
For the Times West Virginian
MORGANTOWN — Who’s going to back up consensus All-America tailback Steve Slaton for West Virginia University’s football team this year?
“It’s a pretty wide-open field,” coach Rich Rodriguez declared Thursday evening at his daily briefing for the media. He said it’s really hard to evaluate after just one day in full pads.
Junior Ed Collington and redshirt freshman Eddie Davis got their first tastes of collegiate competition in limited action last season. But they’re being challenged in preseason practice by a pair of highly regarded freshmen, Noel Devine and Jock Sanders.
Both are quick learners and hard workers.
Rodriguez declined to predict when one of those four might emerge and claim the No. 2 spot at tailback. He suspects it could be kind of a day-to-day situation.
“It could happen by Sept. 1,” he ventured. “It could happen in October. It could happen in November.”
All of the running backs, including Slaton and veteran fullback Owen Schmitt, also have to learn the slot positions and possibly be involved in the passing game.
Rodriguez has been particularly pleased with how quickly the freshmen have progressed. Devine, who’s 5-8 and 170 pounds, set school and Lee County (Fla.) career records at North Fort Myers High with 6,842 yards and 92 touchdowns.
Sanders, 5-8 and 185, starred as a runner/receiver at St. Petersburg (Fla.) Catholic High. He rushed for 1,600 yards and 19 TDs as a junior and 1,200 yards and 24 scores as a senior.
Rodriguez also has been “very impressed” with Brandon Hogan, a 6-0, 175-pound athlete from Osbourn High in Manassas, Va. Playing multiple positions, he passed and led his team to a 14-0 record and the state championship.
He passed for 2,539 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for 1,735 yards and 26 scores as a senior. He also returned a punt for a TD.
“I believe Hogan can play a couple of positions already,” the coach said.
He’s also pleased with the progress of junior Selvish Capers, a 6-6, 285-pound offensive lineman.
“He may be in the mix at tackle,” Rodriguez said.
Another rookie, Will Johnson, is expected to compete for playing time at wide receiver. He’s a 6-2 and 200 athlete from Dayton, Ohio.
“I don’t think he will be redshirted,” Rodriguez said.
The Mountaineers practiced twice on Thursday for the first time. They donned shorts for a 75-minute afternoon session. Then they worked out at night after a heavy rain storm in early evening.
